Thirteen EU candidate countries endorsed on Tuesday a declaration by existing members warning Iraq that it had one last chance to disarm.

But a number of Eastern and Central European states hit back furiously at French President Jacques Chirac who condemned them on Monday for their pro-US stance.

A Czech minister said France appeared to be bullying the candidate countries, while Romanian President Ion Iliescu said the French president's remarks were "inappropriate".

Jacques Chirac should regret such expressions, which are not in the spirit of friendship and democratic relationships

Romanian President Ion Iliescu

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld said: "Poland... also has a right to decide what is in its own good, and France should in its turn consider it with respect."

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair backed the small nations, declaring that all countries should be free to speak their minds.

Chirac warning

He also made clear that he disagreed with the decision by the EU's Greek presidency to exclude the future members from Monday's emergency summit.

This approach will not help to create unity in the Security
Council

Lubomir IvanovBulgarian Deputy FM

It was after the summit in Brussels that Mr Chirac accused the candidates - who have signed letters backing the US position - of childish and irresponsible behaviour.

"It is not well-brought-up behaviour. They missed a good opportunity to keep quiet," he said.

He warned the candidates that their position could be "dangerous" because the EU's decision to accept 10 new members in 2004 still had to be ratified by existing members.

He said Romania and Bulgaria - currently due to join the EU in 2007 - could not have chosen a better way to spoil their chances of joining the club.

'Old' and 'New' Europe

At Monday's summit, EU leaders bridged some of the gaps dividing them on policy towards Iraq.

LATEST LETTER SUPPORTING US

Albania

Bulgaria*

Croatia

Estonia*

Latvia*

Lithuania*

Macedonia

Romania*

Slovakia*

Slovenia*

*EU candidate country

The declaration said Iraq must disarm fully and completely, and that force would be used as a last resort.

It also said war was not inevitable, and that UN weapons inspectors should be given more time.

The compromise was a synthesis of the more hawkish position taken by the UK, Spain and Italy, and the dovish position taken by France and Germany.

Most of the candidate countries have sided with the hawks, prompting US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to compare the "New" Europe favourably with what he called the "Old" Europe.

Among the politicians who lined up to criticise Mr Chirac, Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Lubomir Ivanov said his remarks would not help to create unity in the Security Council.

'Condescending'

The chairman of the Hungarian parliament's EU Integration committee, Istvan Szent-Ivanyi, said: "No-one can oblige us to be silent."

JANUARY'S OPEN LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR US

Czech Republic*

Denmark

Hungary*

Italy

Poland*

Portugal

Spain

United Kingdom

*EU candidate country

Slovak Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan said: "I do not comprehend why Mr Chirac is not criticising Italy, Spain or Portugal. After all, they said exactly the same... I do not like it, and I do not think this way of marking us out is justified."

Estonian foreign ministry spokeswoman Tiina Maiberg told BBC News Online: "All we would say is that the more plurality of opinion in Europe, the better it is. Our country and other countries have a right to express our opinions."

There was also criticism from leading European parliamentarians.

Hans-Georg Poettering, who leads the largest grouping in the parliament, the centre-right European People's Party said it was dangerous to pit east against west, and EU against US.

"Were we to define our relationship in such a way that European integration is seen as something running counter to our
relations with the United States, then we would be jeopardising
the future of the European Union," he said.